Garoppolo invited to attend NFL Draft

Charleston, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is one of 30 prospects who has officially accepted an invitation to the NFL Draft set next month.

The three-day draft will be held from May 8-10 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Garoppolo, who won the 2013 Walter Payton Award as the outstanding player in the FCS, is a rare FCS player invited to the draft by the NFL.

South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and UCF quarterback Blake Bortles highlight the list of players. Alabama and Texas A&M tied for the most players invited to the draft with three each.

The NFL has typically limited invites to those considered near locks to go in the first round, but it has increased the number of invites this year. A small handful of players did not accept invitations.